WASHINGTON — Amtrak is asking for at least seven different car types in its order for new single-level passenger cars, according to its Request for Proposals prepared for prospective builders.
The request calls for consists with an “accessible core” to feature 32-inch-wide aisles allowing people with disabilities to reach all amenities, such as the dining car, but not all coaches or sleeping cars will be fully accessible. Also included with the RFP: a “CX Vision” document with extensive illustrations of what the company seeks in terms of seating and car configurations.
Car types outlined in the document, with their target capacities, include:
- A 60-seat standard coach with one accessible position;
- A 33-seat “premium accessible coach” with three accessible positions and seating in a two-and-one configuration;
- An accessible sleeper with two accessible bedrooms with bathroom and shower; four “club bedrooms” with restroom and shower; and a crew roomette, bathroom, and shower.
- A standard sleeper with seven roomettes, 12 solo suites, one crew roomette, two restrooms, and a communal shower;
- A café car with 36 booth seats and two mobility positions;
- A dining car with 18 booth seats and one mobility position;
- A diner/lounge with 36 booth seats, one diner mobility position; 30 lounge seats, and two lounge mobility positions;
- An optional 66-seat “high-capacity coach;”
- An optional “utility car” — essentially a baggage-dormitory including six roomettes for crew.
A solo suite will be a single-person accommodation with a seat that turns into a bed as well as a working table; pairs of suites will have a divider that can be opened to form a single space. Roomettes will be for up to two people, and will have facing seats that turn into one bed, with an upper berth for a second bed.
Club bedrooms will accommodate up to four people with two facing double seats which turn into one bed that can sleep two, and an upper berth that can also sleep two. The accessible bedroom will provide accommodations for one person using a mobility device and two other passengers, with a double lower berth and a single upper berth. Only the bedrooms will have their own restrooms, although roomettes and solo suits will have fold-out sinks…